Today's News

The Las Vegas Heat, a 12-and-under travelling girls’ softball team, split two games with Santa Fe teams this week, losing to the Extreme 16-15 and beating the Untouchables 18-5. Last week, the Heat defeated two other Santa Fe rivals — the Storm 8-0 and the Stingers 14-4. The squad is 3-1 under head coach Paul Sandoval and assistants Abie Ulibarri and Roland Medrano.

It was an emotional day at Las Vegas City Schools on Monday as Superintendent Sheryl McNellis-Martinez notified several staff members that they may be reassigned or soon find themselves out of a job.

Citing budget cuts, McNellis-Martinez confirmed to the Optic on Tuesday that she is cutting two principal positions, four clerical positions, a Central Office position in the human resource office, an administrative assistant, two librarian positions and the director of transportation and maintenance post. The cuts go into effect for the upcoming school year.

SANTA FE — More than 30,000 state and local government workers face a 15 percent increase for their health care insurance starting next month, but it could be only the beginning of higher costs as New Mexico’s self-insurance program digs out of a financial hole.

Maria Sandoval, 25, of La Loma was killed in a head-on collision on US 84 near Los Montoyas Sunday afternoon, state police said.

Sandoval was driving alone in her 1995 Honda Acura northbound when a southbound 2003 Lincoln SUV driven by George Heagerty, age unavailable, of San Antonio, Texas, crossed the center line and collided with her vehicle, said Sgt. Dominic Lucero of the state police in Las Vegas.

Heagerty told an officer that Sandoval’s car was in his lane, and he swerved into her lane to avoid a collision, Lucero said.

In 1963
Thursday, June 20 — Rodeo activity in Las Vegas will get under way tonight with judging of the queen contest, a Ballyhoo and dance to be followed by rodeos, dances and parades Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Rough Riders began arriving early this week for their reunion, which is being held here, and a number of dinners and receptions are planned for the Rough Riders, their wives and guests. Queen contestants Linda Post, Karen Darnell and Beverly Stevenson will be judged tonight at the Rodeo Grounds when they demonstrate their horsemanship.

Fort Union National Monument’s annual “Cultural Encounters” weekend on Saturday, June 22 and Sunday, June 23. The event weekend is free and open to the public and runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Special emphasis will be placed on the Southwest in 1863, talks and demonstrations will be given, highlighting the military campaigns and actions which connected Fort Union to the Long Walk of Mescalero Apache and Navajo in 1863.

Wednesday
Scattered showers and thunderstorms before 7 a.m., then isolated showers and thunderstorms after 1 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Breezy, with a southwest wind 10-15 mph, increasing to 20-25 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. Isolated showers and thunderstorms before 7 p.m. Partly cloudy at night, with a low around 56. Breezy, with a southwest wind 20-25 mph, decreasing to 10-15 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 10 percent.

People who live around Mike Mateo Elementary in Sapello heard explosions and felt the ground shake at about 8 p.m. Tuesday night.

State police Sgt Emmanuel Gutierrez said his agency’s Ordnance Disposal Team was in the area detonating abandoned dynamite that they were called in to dispose of. He said some 40 sticks of dynamite were detonated. There were no injuries, and no foul play is suspected, Gutierrez said.

From the 1870s to the 1950s, tuberculosis was the leading cause of death in the United States. It was believed that dry climate, high elevation, fresh air, rest, and sound nutrition were effective treatments. The Las Vegas area met the criteria and the Valmora Industrial Sanatorium, 25 miles north, was established in 1904 by Dr. William T. Brown. It was later supported by 35 industrial organizations in Chicago and St. Louis.